Panda-monium

IF GIVEN the opportunity, I would move to China to take care of pandas. I love them that much. If you've ever seen them play on a slide, you would understand why. If you haven't seen that beauty, behold…

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Mabula Bula Bula Bula

TRAVEL WRITING would be my ultimate dream job. Travel, write, repeat. Sign me up! So this piece is for the Travelstart blog contest (you can find out info here). I hope you enjoy!

GAME RESERVES have never been high on my travel list but after taking a trip to Mabula Game Lodge, it features highly and repeatedly. My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to win a trip there, thanks to 2oceansvibe, and it was a perfect location for our fourth year anniversary.

WE FLEW from Durban to Johannesburg the Friday morning and then it was a 2 hour drive to the lodge. The room was incredible, it was double a standard room and had a huge bathtub and shower (which I love). We were just in time for lunch (every meal is buffet - hoorah! Let the eating begin!) which we enjoyed outside by the bar and second pool. Where was the first pool, you ask? Right around the corner, very big and kitted out with a waterfall and bar stools in the water where you can sit and order drinks. Upon seeing this, I declared that I would sit in that pool and order a cocktail (which I did on the Saturday and it was one of the best cocktails I have ever had).

Our room, with balcony and turn down service.

First pool, with AMAZING bar.

Second pool, decorative only. No swimming.

THAT AFTERNOON we got to enjoy one of two game drives (we passed on the other two so we could enjoy more of the lodge) where we got to see giraffe, hippos, zebra, elephants and so much more. My favourite was the morning (5am!!!) game drive where we drive through a big gate into the lion enclosure, which is over 250 hectares. There are 11 lions and we got to see 7 of them - not bad! And I'm obsessed with lions so to see them casually walking meters away from us was one of my travel highlights!

The King of the Jungle, meters away from us.

IT WAS a beautiful lodge with incredible staff - we loved our game ranger - and we made memories we will never forget. I now click on every game reserve travel deal I see!

Getty Fails

IF YOU'VE ever had to visit a stock photo site, you'll know there are some completely random, disturbing, odd, weird photos out there.

GETTY CRITICS site posts those gems with awesome captions…

Stock site caption: Happy family driving in a convertible car
Getty Critics caption: Stop fucking around and fork out the $23 to take your kids to an amusement park.

Stock site caption: Girl (3-5) sitting on mother's shoulders, laughing
Getty Critics caption: Suzanne immediately regretted getting her daughter MMA lessons. But she didn’t have much time to think about it, because she’s dead.

Stock site caption: Close up of family eating hotdogs
Getty Critics caption: The guy and girl are pretty pumped about tandem eating that lettuce dog. But the little girl is more excited about eating your soul.

Stock site caption: Man photographing friends with digital camera on beach
Getty Critics caption: It’s bad enough that Getty’s filled with bad photos, now they’re selling bad photos of people taking terrible photos. Also - Inception joke.

 CHECK OUT more here.

Traveller's Heart

ANYONE WHO knows me knows that I am obsessed with travel. I would spend all my money on trips to new spots. I'm always thinking of where I would travel next and I definitely don't need any encouragement to travel.

IF YOU'RE not like me, you might need a little inspiration to convert you to the dark side…

VIEW MORE quotes here.

Mumford Lolz

I AM a huge fan of Mumford & Sons. I have a Pinterest board of them, I have their CD's on repeat in my car, and I'm pretty certain I will cry if I ever get to see them live (that much of a fan).

SO WHEN I saw this video… I realized what happiness is. Happiness is Jason Bateman, Ed Helms, Jason Sudeikis and that guy from Saturday Night Live acting as the band in the Hopeless Wanderer music video.

AMAZING.